Angeline National Forest

The Angelina National Forest is a United States National Forest, one of four that can be found in Texas. The 153,180 acre Angelina National Forest is located in East Texas in parts of Angelina, Jasper, San Augustine, and Nacogdoches counties. It is managed together with the three other National Forests in Texas from Forest Service offices located in Lufkin, Texas. There are local district offices found in Zavalla. The forest lies in the Neches River Basin and on the north and south shores of Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Longleaf Pine is the predominant cover in the southern part of the forest, while Loblolly and Shortleaf Pine are the dominant species in the northern parts. Hundreds of wildlife species can be found inside the forest. Principal game is deer, squirrel, woodcock, wild turkey, quail, dove, and duck. The forest provides wintering habitat for the threatened Bald Eagle. The Red-cockaded Woodpecker, which is an endangered species, can be found throughout the forest.

Humans came to the area about 8,000 years ago. Archeological sites document the evidence of man’s presence over the entire period since that time. In 1934, the Texas Legislature approved a resolution to urge federal purchase of land to create National Forests in Texas. In 1935, acquisition began on the Davy Crockett, Sam Houston, Sabine, and Angelina National Forests.

There are two areas that are officially designated wilderness areas within Angelina National Forest that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System: The Turkey Hill Wilderness and Upland Island Wilderness.